Marietta Stevenson

Marietta Stevenson came to the University of Illinois in 1943, joining what is now the School of Social Work. Prior to her arrival at U of I, she was an assistant director of the American Public Welfare Association for 12 years. When she arrived, she became the school’s first dean and eventually renamed the program from social welfare administration to its current namesake. She was the first woman to become a member of the Illinois public aid commission in May 1950. In 1961, Marietta retired from U of I, leaving the social work program stronger than it was when she began.